Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiestarsa’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Impatiens  plant named ‘Balfiestarsa’, characterized by its double-type salmon-colored flowers with light red-colored mottling, dark green-colored foliage, and vigorous, upright mounded growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Impatiens walleriana.

Variety denomination: ‘Balfiestarsa’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant botanically known as Impatiens walleriana and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balfiestarsa’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Elburn, Ill. during February 2003. The objective of the breeding program was the development of new compact Impatiens cultivars with fully double-type flowers, attractive flower and foliage coloration, and freely branching growth habit.

The new cultivar was the result of a self-pollination of the proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding selection 3596-3-2, not patented, characterized by its white-colored flowers with coral-colored venation, medium green-colored foliage, and medium vigorous habit. The new cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated self-pollination during October 2003 in a controlled environment at Elburn, Ill.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since October 2003 at Elburn, Ill. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balfiestarsa’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant:

-   -   1. Double-type, salmon-colored flowers with light red-colored         mottling;     -   2. Dark green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, upright mounded growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the parent primarily in flower color, foliage color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Impatiens cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Salmon Sunrise’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 9,691. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Salmon Sunrise’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar are less floriferous than plants         of ‘Salmon Sunrise’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter flower color than         plants of ‘Salmon Sunrise’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balfiestarsa’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 6 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balfiestarsa’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of a partially open flower on the left and a fully open flower on the right of ‘Balfiestarsa’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 6, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 6 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 65° F. to 75° F. (18° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 55° F. to 62° F. (13° C. to 17° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 4,000 to 6,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Impatiens walleriana cultivar     Balfiestarsa. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection 3596-3-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Impatiens walleriana breeding             selection 3596-3-2, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 7 to 8 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fine and fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 6 to 9 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, upright and             mounded.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 20.2 cm. Width: Approximately 39.1 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Approximately 4             branches per plant.         -   Branch.—Strength: Strong. Length: Approximately 19.2 cm.             Diameter: Approximately 8.9 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color:             Closest to 147C with streaks of 187B. Internode length at             center of branch: Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 14.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Alternate.             Aspect: Acute angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Crenate,             ciliate. Apex: Mucronate. Base: Attenuate. Venation pattern:             Pinnate. Length of leaf at center of stem: Approximately             4.4 cm. Width of leaf at center of stem: Approximately             2.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Color             of upper surface of mature foliage: Closest to 139A with             venation of 143C. Color of lower surface of mature foliage:             Closest to 138B with splotches of closest to 185C and             venation of 143B. Petiole length: Approximately 2.6 cm.             Petiole diameter: Approximately 3.0 mm. Petiole texture:             Glabrous. Color of upper surface of petiole: 138C with             streaks of 70A. Color of lower surface of petiole: 138C. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balfiestarsa’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 10 weeks from sticking             of unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 7 to 9 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Double. Borne: Above foliage. Quantity of fully open             flowers per plant at 6 weeks: Approximately 11. Fragrance:             None.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Oval. Quantity showing color             at six weeks: Approximately 13. Length: Approximately             1.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 1.1 cm. Color: Closest to             55D with dusting of 54B near margin and margin of solid 54B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Hemispherical. Diameter: Approximately             4.2 cm. Depth: Approximately 2.3 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 26. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Flat.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse, some             are emarginate. Base: Attenuate. Texture: Glabrous. Length             of outermost petal: Approximately 2.3 cm. Width of outermost             petal: Approximately 2.1 cm. Length of innermost petal:             Approximately 1.2 cm. Width of innermost petal:             Approximately 7.4 mm. Color of upper surface of petals when             fully open: Base and background of N155C with margin of 54A,             mottling of 54A and 54B over one-half of the surface inside             the margin, and venation at base of 71A. Color of lower             surface of petals when fully open: Base and background of             N155C with margin of 54B and mottling of 54B and 54C over             one-half of the surface inside the margin.         -   Spur.—Quantity: One primary and 3 to 4 vestigial per flower.             Length of primary spur: Approximately 2.7 cm. Diameter of             primary spur at tip: Approximately 0.7 mm. Diameter at base:             Approximately 1.9 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: 59A at             distal end and 147D at proximal end with streaks of 59A that             radiate from the distal end throughout three fourths of the             length.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.6 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.5 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Closest to 147C.         -   Calyx.—Quantity of sepals per flower: 4. Upper sepal is             fused to lower surface of upper petal. Apex: Acuminate.             Texture of upper and lower surfaces: Glabrous. Shape of             lateral sepal: Lanceolate. Length of lateral sepal:             Approximately 2.8 mm. Width of lateral sepal: Approximately             1.3 mm. Color of lateral sepal: 143B with 70A at tip. Shape             of lower sepal: Ovate. Length of lower sepal: Approximately             1.2 cm. Width of lower sepal: Approximately 8.3 mm. Color of             lower sepal: 150D.         -   Reproductive organs.—None observed. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Impatiens has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Impatiens plant named ‘Balfiestarsa’, substantially as herein shown and described. 